U.S. Defeats Italy 6-0 to Advance to IPH Cup Final

OSTRAVA, Czechia – A four-point performance from Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) and a shutout from U.S. netminder Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) helped the U.S. National Sled Team to a 6-0 victory over Italy in the semifinals of the 2024 IPH Cup at Ostrava Arena.

The win propels Team USA to the IPH Cup finals tomorrow (Oct. 13) against the winner of the second semifinal contest between Canada and Czechia. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. local/12 p.m. ET, and the game will live stream here.  The U.S. record improves to 3-1-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L).

"I thought it was a good, solid effort start to finish," said David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. "We relaxed offensively as the game went on and we were able to cash in on our chances."

Moments after the conclusion of a U.S. power play, Chris Douglas (Saint Cloud, Fla.) sent an outlet pass to Farmer on a rush up the ice, who threaded the puck to Evan Nichols (Haymarket, Va.) through a swarm of defenders. Nichols tucked it home to give his team the lead 5:16 into the contest.

Team USA made the most of its second man advantage when Farmer powered a wrist shot over the blocker of Italian netminder Patrik Sedláček just 10 seconds into the power play to put the U.S. up 2-0 with 5:43 to play in the opening frame. Josh Misiewicz (La Grange, Ill.) and Nichols picked up assists on the tally.

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Jack Wallace (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) added to Team USA’s advantage late in the second period, breaking into the offensive zone following a faceoff win by Travis Dodson (Deming, N.M.) and following up on his own rebound to force the puck into the back of the net to take a 3-0 lead with 2:44 left in the period.

Misiewicz redirected a shot from Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) past Sedláček just 22 seconds later to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead.

Kayden Beasley (Coats, N.C.) continued the surge of scoring for Team USA, capitalizing on an odd-man rush generated by a takeaway from Farmer. Beasley fired a wrist shot home for his first-career goal to increase the advantage to five goals with 1:19 remaining in the frame.

Farmer added to the U.S. lead just past the mid-point of the third period, capitalizing on a rebound opportunity from Isaac Escobedo (Las Vegas, Nev.) for tally of the contest to put Team USA up 6-0.

LaMarre finished the game with a five-save shutout, his second of the tournament.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Italy 42-5 … Team USA was 1-3 on the power play, while Italy was 0-2 … Kayden Beasley was named U.S. Player of the Game.

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Source: usahockey.com